Note: I received access to read this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book has some excellent characters and good humor. It doesn't always get the tone right in the later chapters though. The plot could use more of a through line but each individual chapter makes sense.

Holy cow. This is non stop gas pedal to the floor horror. So good, cannot not at all wait for volume 2.

///// English /////

*Disclaimer: I had received a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 6 / 10 – 3 stars out of 5
Genre: graphic novel, fantasy

Sometimes it’s easier to face other people’s monsters than our own.

Oscar Zahn is a paranormal inspector tasked with solving problems with entities from other dimensions. In these pages we will find stories that need to be tell, not his own, although he draws a little between the lines.

The illustrations are quite nice and eye-catching, especially those of the hydronaut case. They are very appropiately coloured and the technology is always present.

For the text, I feel that I lost some context and that many situations are resolved on the fly. Maybe I didn’t fully understand them or they just stayed on the surface. However, I liked it overall.

It talks about self-acceptance, about facing one's own traumas, about fighting to the end, about loyalty, about humanity... These are complex issues that are treated with a lot of tact and artistry, but without much depth.

“After all, I know better than most that the most difficult monster to face is the one you see in the mirror”.




///// Español /////

*Aviso: Recibí un eARC gratuito a cambio de una revisión honesta.

Puntuación: 6 / 10 – 3 estrellas de 5
Género: novela gráfica, fantasía

A veces es más fácil enfrentarse a los monstruos de otros que a los nuestros.

Oscar Zahn es un inspector paranormal encargado de solventar problemas con entes de otras dimensiones. En estas páginas encontraremos historias que deben contarse, y no la suya propia, aunque se dibuja un poco entre líneas.

Las ilustraciones son bastante bonitas y llamativas, especialmente las del caso de los hidronautas. Son colores muy apropiados y la tecnología está siempre presente.

En cuanto al texto, siento que me falta contexto y que muchas situaciones se resuelven sobre la marcha. Tal vez no las entendí del todo o solo se quedaron en la superficie. Sin embargo, sí me gustó en términos generales.

Se habla acerca de la propia aceptación, de enfrentar nuestros propios traumas, de luchar hasta el final, de la lealtad, de la humanidad… Son temas complejos tratados con mucho tacto y arte, pero sin demasiada profundidad.

“Después de todo, sé mejor que la mayoría que el monstruo más difícil de enfrentar es el que ves en el espejo”.

A weird, but interesting graphic novel that manages to keep a light tone despite touching on some deep themes. Told in little short stories that seem unrelated at first but end up connecting to a bigger mystery just out of our reach in this 1st volume. I can’t wait to unravel it in the sequel.

(Review to be posted online the week of release as per publish instruction)

I’ve never needed to get something in physical copy from NetGalley before BUT now I need to get all of Oscars adventures. In volume 1, we meet Oscar who is a supernatural detective. The first two stories give you a tone of what you are walking yourself into. I loved how the rest of the stories connected into a bigger story and that ending???? I will be here happily waiting for the publication is volume 2. This was wholesome, funny and sweet. The side characters are great specially Agnes and Lady Grey. I loved how at points it explored complex topics regarding physics and got a little philosophical. If you like adventures with a little spooky sci-fi. You would love this. For fans of light box ♥️ this graphic novel will bring joy to you.

Originally a webtoon, I think the Strange Tales of Oscar Zahn was successfully reformatted into a traditional graphic novel. The story is unique and the art definitely packs a punch. Strange tales indeed.

I liked this universe and the illustration style of this. The latter is a little in the vein of Mignola and personally, that's one of the things that pulled me toward this book. Oscar was a fun main character and I enjoyed each little mini story themselves. I'm not sure about the major plot as a whole about how that thing got into Oscar and turned him into a skeleton. I thought I understood what was happening with the flashback, but then the end of the book through me for a loop. So there seem to be pieces to the puzzle we're missing as a whole that I hope will come in Volume Two. Those missing pieces made Volume One fill a little clunky and bumpy. But, I think volume one did a great job of setting up the universe in this story and introducing us to Oscar. So I'm interested to see where the next volume will take us.

4 star read from me. I liked this book so much. I recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can. Super well written, the characters are super interesting too.

I requested the book expecting it to be a horror graphic novel. But, it was more on the emotional side which totally unexpected. The graphics were fabulous. I would have enjoyed it more if it had stick to the title. The cover page is more interesting than the content. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an opportunity to read and review the book.

I NEED MORE!! A wonderful graphic novel that touches deep themes and with a gorgeous art. I will recommend it forevermore and I think it's going to be a book I'll end up gifting a lot. I really, really thank the publishing house for this arc copy and can't wait to buy the physical version 😭😭

I really enjoyed the spooky aspects and the historical ones. The cast of characters was quite lovely (I definitely got attached to most of them) and I can't wait to see more of Oscar!

This one was just okay for me. I really liked the concept, and the artwork was also really well done, but it was very hard to follow and dragged a bit at some points in the story. There's a bit of a historical fiction aspect, with mentions of World War 1 -- with a fantasy element added to it. I would be interested to read more from this series to see if I like it more as it progresses.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Ten Speed Graphic, the author, Tri Vuong, and NetGalley for providing the advanced reader's copy of this title, The Strange Tales of Oscar Zahn, Vol. 1, for review. Review also posted to Goodreads and will be posted to Amazon.

I thought this was such a great time! The spooky, creepy and many times odd world of Oscar Zahn drew me in from the beginning and I'm so interested in more. I love the idea of a floating skull being a paranormal investigator with a huge heart. The art was beautifully done, and sets the mood and matches the story so well. I found myself taking extra time on each page to just admire the cool and creepy characters and backgrounds. I think the cover is really well done as well, and piqued my interest right away! I'm interested to learn more about Oscar's story and the whole world he exists within.

Strange Tales of Oscar Zahn is a beautiful, dark, endearing, and sad beginning to a promising series. Engrossing and mysterious, with characters that would be hard not to love and a strange, wonderful world rendered in fantastic art. The end came too soon, and the next volume can't come soon enough!

*ARC provided by NetGalley & Ten Speed Graphic*

The art was so mesmerizing and beautiful. The story was action packed, exciting and meaningful. I loved the spooky vibes throughout

Beautiful, weird and interesting! The art is fantastic, the story lines are unique and engaging with a over arching plot line centered on our protagonist, Oscar Zahn that keeps you wanting more. Somewhere between fantasy, horror, paranormal, with a little steampunk energy, I'll be back for more strange tales.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

This is a cool and quirky supernatural graphic novel. Oscar Zahn is a really great character. The star of the show is the art, though, and it is incredible. The full page panels are especially impressive and true works of art. I will definitely recommend to students interested in art, especially the ones interested in darker stories.

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

This includes 2 full story arcs plus a couple of short vignettes. I enjoyed the stories and the artwork. I think the blurb is misleading - the tone is darker than just some heartwarming misadventures. There are full grown adults with decisions they regret and feel like they need to pay penance for. Characters make decisions that have serious consequences. I enjoyed that the characters weren't shallow and had a bunch of baggage that was still affecting them.

The first volume of the horror graphic novel “The Strange Tales of Oscar Zahn” by Tri Vuong follows the paranormal investigator Oscar Zahn on his mission to save lost souls while battling his own demons.

I really liked the illustration style! The colors enhanced the atmosphere and the panels were visually pleasing. The protagonist looks really iconic and I was intrigued by his backstory. The way it developed through the different episodes was great!
I also enjoyed the narration style with implemented flashbacks and the episodic character of the cases.

However I did not resonate with every story. Especially the story about the world war didn't have the same strangeness and tone as the other ones and didn't fit perfectly into the collection in my opinion.

Overall I enjoyed this graphic novel and would recommend it if you are in the mood for a paranormal read!

A big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Clarkson Potter/ Ten Speed Press for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Great illustrations and cast of characters.
Interesting concept
Intrigued for more, for sure
I'll be catching up on the webcomic

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for this ARC.

I really loved the vibes of this graphic novel. It had a witchy, ghostly ambiance that would be perfect for spooky season and we’re trying to figure out Oscar’s story and what he became that floating skull.
We switch between timelines as we get insights of his past.
I admit it was kinda confusing at times trying to find out the motives and the purpose of the characters through all the snippets we are given but that made me want to learn more about them and curious enough to read the next volume!